Hotel dream becomes a reality

MIDDLETOWN -- A longtime dream came to fruition as city, business and university officials gathered Tuesday to officially mark the revitalization of the old National Guard Armory.

AMY L. ZITKA

Published
12:00 am EDT, Wednesday, September 25, 2002

Around 100 people watched as golden shovels were put to grass during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Inn and Conference Center at Middletown. The hotel, being developed by Robert Friedman, the city, Wesleyan University, the Weitzman family and private investors, will be the first along Main Streetin more than 60 years.

"This is really a historic day for Middletown," said Middletown Hotel Committee Chairman Mark Masselli of the ceremony and celebration. The last hotel on Main Street closed in 1940, he said.

Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce President Larry McHugh agreed that "this is a terrific day."

"The last hotel was built in 1832. That is unbelievable," said McHugh, who also is a committee member. "We are really going to skyrocket Middletown forward."

"This is a red letter day which means vibrancy and vitality," Mayor Domenique Thornton said. "This is the biggest thing downtown has seen in a century."

As a crowd stood and sat on the front lawn of the Armory building and gathered on the sidewalk, they looked toward the brick facade supported by wooden braces as work had already begun in demolition. The old military drill shed is to be taken off, but the historic facade will remain.

Many had tried to bring a hotel to Middletown, but Daley recognized the vision of the late Gerard Weitzman, a local philanthropist. Nine years ago the economic development committee wanted to preserve the Armory building. While Stephen Gionfriddo was mayor, Weitzman had a vision for a community and cultural center which has evolved into the hotel, he said.

A few months after Weitzman passed away, Wesleyan University President Douglas Bennet agreed to host meetings to "rekindle the idea of a hotel and in recognition of Gerry's memory," Masselli said. "There was a force much larger than we were (to keep the project going)."

From the armory, "boys went off to defend our freedom for so many years," he said, adding that all war memorials in the building will be preserved.

The other force in the project was Weitzman.

"We are no longer mourning his passing," Masselli said. "We are celebrating his life."

Rich Knotek, who represented the Weitzman family, said the hotel groundbreaking is "a testament to Gerry's beliefs."

In 1995, Weitzman envisioned the armory being preserved, but at that point he did not know how, Knotek said. After Weitzman bought the armory from the city, the idea turned from a cultural center to a hotel. In 1999, Gerry and Babs Weitzman died in a car accident, but "the family led by Neal and Bruce continued with the vision..a realize their father's dream," he said.

Besides the city pulling together for something grand, it is a story of a family dedicated to the community, Knotek said.

The $10.2 million hotel project is being assisted by the Small Business Administration and four area banks assisting in the financing. The hotel will have 100 rooms, including two-bedroom suites, an indoor pool and restaurant. There will be valet parking and parking around the building. The hotel will be managed by Interstate Hotels & Resorts, of Washington, D.C.

"We expect to open late next summer to receive guests," said Friedman. The hotel will "make the city a more attractive environment for business."

"This is a big day for veterans," said Bob Mantel, who served with the 169th B Company Meds. Mantel started going to the Armory and 1938 and left for duty in 1941.

The armory was used as an induction facility for World War II servicemen before it was abandoned by the National Guard in 1984. The city owned the site until 1997 when Weitzman, former owner of Pelton's Drug Store bought it. The building remains in the Weitzman family.

"We hated to see the Armory go in disrepair, and it's a good memorial for everybody," Mantel said. "We just hope it's going to be a big success. This was our second home."